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Biomedical subjects

T Ball

Publications and source records attributed to T Ball.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Traumatic diaphragmatic hernia: errors in diagnosis.

Experience with 42 cases of traumatic diaphragmatic hernia is reviewed. The correct diagnosis was most readily made when: (1) the injury was recent, (2) the tear was left sided and large with readily identifiable structures herniated, (3) appropriate diagnostic procedures were carried out (chest film, upper gastrointestinal examination, barium enema study, nuclear liver scan, computed tomography), and (4) a high index of suspicion was maintained. The diagnosis was likely to be missed when: (1) the history of trauma, usually remote, was not obtained or was disregarded, (2) the hernia was right sided with herniation of the liver or other solid (water density) organs, or (3) diagnostic tests were not properly correlated (i.e., abnormal barium enema and chest film) or were not obtained. The rather characteristic appearance of herniated liver on the nuclear liver/spleen scan is noted and its use rather than pneumoperitoneum is recommended.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Accident and emergency: patients don't--staff do.

Who is responsible for the misuse of the ambulance service and what can be done about it? This question is raised by Terry Ball, planning officer for West Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service, who believes that the guilty parties are the ambulance service itself, doctors, nurses administrators and support service staff. Here he explores ways in which the misuse can be rectified.

Ambulances↗
PubMed1980

Ambulance services: a logical, effective and economic solution.

Ambulance services tend to be over-manned and under-productive. Metropolitan services, run by regions, cost more and are less sensitive to local needs than those run by areas. In offering his strictly personal views, Terry Ball, staff officer, West Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service, suggests that in future DHAs should run the ambulances.

Ambulances↗
PubMed1978

Cholangiographic abnormalities in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Twenty patients with inflammatory bowel disease, abnormal liver function tests and abnormal endoscopic retrograde cholangiograms were found to have a spectrum of abnormalities affecting the intra- and extrahepatic biliary trees. The intrahepatic systems were abnormal in all patients and demonstrated ductal stenosis, ectasia, decreased arborization and major duct obstruction. The extrahepatic systems were abnormal in 75 percent of cases with stenosis, diverticula formation and mural irregularity being the most frequent abnormalities. The value of endoscopic retrograde cholangiography in this patient group is to exclude extrahepatic obstruction, establish a nonoperative diagnosis, and assist in determining the method of treatment.

Adenoma, Bile Duct↗
PubMedDate not supplied

X-ray crystal structures of birch pollen profilin and Phl p 2.

BACKGROUND: Type 1 allergy affects 20% of industrialized populations and thus represents a major health care issue. The symptoms of type 1 allergy, which include rhinitis, conjunctivitis, dermatitis and asthma, are elicited by the cross-linking of IgE receptors through polyvalent allergens. A detailed understanding of the cell surface phenomena and the rational development of new therapies require high-resolution structural information. METHODS: The structures of two widespread allergens, birch pollen profilin (BPP) and Phl p 2 have been solved by multiple isomorphous replacement. Refinements are underway to 2.4 and 2.0 A, respectively. In addition, the IgE-reactive epitopes of BPP where identified by screening an epitope expression library with the serum IgE of an allergic individual. RESULTS: BPP exhibits an alpha/beta-fold which is similar to the mammalian and amoeba profilins. The structure of Phl p 2 is a compact eight-stranded beta-barrel. Screening an epitope library of BPP identified three major epitopic regions involved in IgE binding, including the amino and carboxy-terminal alpha-helices. These regions also interact with the physiologically relevant ligands of profilin, actin and proline-rich peptides. CONCLUSIONS: The distribution of IgE-binding sites on BPP allows for the productive interaction with IgE antibodies of different epitope specificities required for efficient signal transduction. These epitopes correspond to the most highly conserved regions of the profilin molecule and thus provide the molecular basis for allergen cross-sensitivity. Due to steric considerations, the involvement of these epitopic regions in the binding of physiologically relevant profilin ligands indicates that the native profilin is the species responsible for eliciting the allergic response. A comparison of the BPP and Phl p 2 structures shows that there is no preference for secondary structural elements in the allergic response. The detailed chemical and physical description of the major reactive epitopes provides a data base for the design of tight-binding monovalent ligands which can prevent receptor aggregation and thereby reduce the allergic response.

Allergens↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Genetically engineered and synthetic allergen derivatives: candidates for vaccination against type I allergy.

Type I allergy, a hypersensitivity disease affecting almost 20% of the population worldwide, is based on the IgE recognition of otherwise harmless antigens (i.e., allergens). Allergen-induced crosslink of effector cell-bound IgE antibodies leads to the release of biological mediators and thus to immediate disease symptoms (allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis and asthma). Specific immunotherapy, the only causative treatment of Type I allergy, is based on the administration of increasing doses of allergens to allergic patients in order to yield allergen-specific non-responsiveness. Major disadvantages are 1. that current forms of allergen immunotherapy are performed with allergens difficult to standardize which cannot be matched to the patients reactivity profile and 2. that the administration of active allergen preparations can cause anaphylactic side effects. Through the application of molecular biological techniques many relevant environmental allergens have been produced as active recombinant proteins which allow component-resolved allergy diagnosis and thus represent the basis for patient-tailored forms of immunotherapy. Here we review molecular strategies which have been recently applied to generate genetically engineered and synthetic hypoallergenic allergen derivatives for patient-tailored and safe vaccination against Type I allergy.

Allergens↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of triclopyr in the crayfish (Procambarus clarki).

Crayfish (Procambarus clarki) were exposed to [14C]triclopyr at concentrations of 1 and 2.5 mg/liter, similar to potential field applications. Following 11 days of exposure, the elimination of accumulated residues was followed for 36 days. The majority of the residue in whole crayfish was present in the carcass (shell, hemolymph). HPLC of hepatopancreas showed the residues were primarily parent triclopyr (greater than 80%). The principle metabolite in the hepatopancreas was confirmed by mass spectrometry as the taurine conjugate of triclopyr. Several minor metabolites also were present at very low levels (less than 0.1 ppm) and were not identified. Residues were eliminated with half-lives of 7 to 17 days, depending on the tissue and exposure concentration. Bioconcentration factors, estimated from uptake and elimination rate constants determined using a compartmental model, were about 1 in whole crayfish and hepatopancreas and about 0.2 in muscle. The results of this study indicate that there is a low potential for accumulation of triclopyr and its metabolites in the crayfish.

Animals↗